Dynamic blood glucose data acquiring device and host

ABSTRACT

A dynamic blood glucose data acquiring device and a host are provided, wherein the collecting device comprises a portable host and a probe assembly; the probe assembly includes two glucolase micro electrode needles and a first circuit board; a first electrode terminal is provided on the first circuit board; the host includes an outer shell and a second circuit board which is located in the outer shell, and a second electrode terminal is provided on the second circuit board; the outer shell further includes a probe mounting position and a fixing structure for fixing the outer shell to a human body; the probe assembly is mounted into the probe mounting position in such a way that the glucolase micro electrode needles are projected out of a lower surface of the outer shell; when the probe assembly is mounted into the probe mounting position, the first electrode terminal on the first circuit board is electrically connected to the second electrode terminal on the second circuit board. In the present application, the probe assembly is fixed on the human body via the portable host, and the blood glucose signals are acquired via the glucolase micro electrode needles of the probe assembly, the collection, the processing and the output of the blood glucose signals can be achieved as a result.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates to medical electronic technology field,and more particularly, relates to a dynamic blood glucose data acquiringdevice and a host.

BACKGROUND

For a diabetic, the monitoring of glucose is very important. Bymonitoring the glucose, it can be determine at what time the insulinshould be injected in order to lower the glucose level in human body, orto supplement the glucose in order to make the glucose reach to a normallevel.

At present, generally, a mainstream domestic portable blood glucosemeter available in the market (for example, the products produced bycompanies such as Sanrupid, Omron, Yuwel, ACCU-CHEK, or the like) uses ablood sampling method which collects the peripheral blood of a humanbody for the detection of the blood glucose: firstly the subcutaneoustissue liquid of a human body of a user is collected using lancingdevices or blood taking papers; then the blood glucose level is detectedand determined by using a colorimetric method, an electrochemicalmethod, or a photometer. However, when using the lancing device or bloodtaking papers to dynamically monitor the change of the blood glucose ofa user, at least four blood glucose papers are needed every day, and theskin of the user needs to be pierced at least four times. In this way,the user may repeatedly feel stabbing pains, and the user experience ispoor. Besides, the information about the blood glucose acquired bydynamically monitoring the blood glucose of the user by means of thepaper is very limited, and it is impossible to analyze and determine thechange of the blood glucose of the user with little blood glucoseinformation.

Besides, it is possible to detect the glucose using an electrochemicalsensor. In this case, the sensor is directly implanted into the bloodvessels or the subcutaneous tissues of a patient. However, in general,these apparatuses are expensive, heavy and inflexible, and have largervolumes. Besides, the detection of the glucose using an electrochemicalsensor needs to be carried out in a hospital or an office of a doctor,which greatly limits the activities of the patient.

It is also possible to use some apparatuses to detect the glucose with asensor guiding object which is placed on the skin of the patient or theposition near the skin. In this case, the sensor guiding object of thistype may be bound on the body of the patient. However, the sensorguiding object of this type is usually heavy, and cannot be movedfreely. Furthermore, the sensor guiding object or the sensor includescables or wires which are configured to connect the sensor to otherapparatuses for the purpose of transmitting signals from the sensor toan analyzer. The size of the sensor guiding object and the present ofthe cables and wires also limit the activities of the patient.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The object of the present application is to provide a dynamic bloodglucose data acquiring device and a host, aiming at the defects in theart that the collection of the blood glucose is fussy, and cables areneeded for the transmission of the signals collected.

The technical solutions to solve the technical problem are as follows.

In one aspect, a dynamic blood glucose data acquiring device isprovided, which comprises a portable host and a probe assembly; whereinthe probe assembly includes two glucolase micro electrode needles, and afirst circuit board which is configured to process signals from theglucolase micro electrode needles; a first electrode terminal isprovided on the first circuit board; the host includes an outer shelland a second circuit board which is located in the outer shell, and asecond electrode terminal is provided on the second circuit board; theouter shell further includes a probe mounting position and a fixingstructure for fixing the outer shell to a human body; the probe assemblyis mounted into the probe mounting position in such a way that theglucolase micro electrode needles are projected out of a lower surfaceof the outer shell; when the probe assembly is mounted into the probemounting position, the first electrode terminal on the first circuitboard is electrically connected to the second electrode terminal on thesecond circuit board.

In one embodiment, a battery configured for supplying power to thesecond circuit board is arranged on the second circuit board, and thesecond circuit board further supplies power to the first circuit boardvia the second electrode terminal and the first electrode terminal.

In this embodiment, the outer shell of the host includes an upper shelland a lower shell which are buckled into each other; the second circuitboard is fixed in a space formed by the upper shell and the lower shell;a Bluetooth communication module is provided on the second circuitboard.

In this embodiment, a tail of each of the glucolase micro electrodeneedles is welded on the first circuit board and is perpendicular to thefirst circuit board; when the probe assembly is assembled to the probemounting position on the outer shell of the host, each of the glucolasemicro electrode needles is perpendicular to the surface of the outershell.

In this embodiment, the probe assembly includes a piston subassembly andan elastic element, and the first circuit board is fixedly mounted onthe piston subassembly; one side of the elastic element is electricallyconnected to the first electrode terminal on the first circuit board,and the other side of the elastic element is located on the periphery ofthe piston subassembly; the probe mounting position on the outer shellis a through-hole running through the upper shell and the lower shell,and a diameter of the through-hole matches with a diameter of the pistonsubassembly; a contact elastic sheet is arranged in a position on thethrough-hole corresponding to the elastic element of the probe assembly,and the contact elastic sheet is electrically connected to the secondelectrode terminal of the second circuit board.

In this embodiment, the through-hole on the outer shell of the host isformed by a piston sleeve, and piston sleeve is received between theupper shell and the lower shell; the contact elastic sheet is fixed onthe piston sleeve.

In this embodiment, a radial rib is formed on the periphery of thepiston subassembly; a radial positioning groove is defined on a positionon the inner wall of the piston sleeve corresponding to the radial ribof the piston subassembly; or a radial positioning groove is defined onthe periphery of the piston subassembly, and a radial rib is formed on aposition on the inner wall of the piston sleeve corresponding to theradial positioning groove.

In this embodiment, the fixing structure on the outer shell includes anadhesive back patch engaged with the bottom of the lower shell, and athrough-hole configured for the glucolase micro electrode needle to runthrough is further defined on the adhesive back patch.

Preferably, a diameter of the through-hole is less than a diameter ofthe piston subassembly.

In another aspect, a host for a dynamic blood glucose date acquiringdevice is further provided, which comprises an outer shell and a secondcircuit board which is located in the outer shell, and a secondelectrode terminal is provided on the second circuit board; the outershell further includes a probe mounting position and a fixing structurefor fixing the outer shell to a human body; an electrode terminalconfigured to connect the probe assembly to the second circuit board isarranged in the probe mounting position.

In the dynamic blood glucose data acquiring device and a host accordingto the present application, the probe assembly is fixed on the humanbody via the portable host, and the blood glucose signals are acquiredvia the glucolase micro electrode needles of the probe assembly; in thisway, the acquiring, the processing and the output of the blood glucosesignals can be achieved. In the present application, the blood glucosedetection data may be transmitted to a terminal device via Bluetooth,which greatly facilitating the acquiring and the analysis of the bloodglucose data, thereby providing a reliable basis for the diagnosis of adoctor or an expert.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a dynamic blood glucose data acquiringdevice according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the dynamic blood glucose data acquiring deviceshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the probe assembly of the dynamic bloodglucose data acquiring device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the host of the dynamic blood glucose dataacquiring device shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a view in which the dynamic blood glucose data acquiringdevice shown in FIG. 1 is worn.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

To make the object, the technical solution and the technical advantagesmore clearly, the present application will be further described withreference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments in the following.It should be understood that, the specific embodiment described here isjust for explanation, not for limitation.

FIGS. 1-5 show a dynamic blood glucose data acquiring device accordingto an embodiment of the present application. The dynamic blood glucosedata acquiring device can be worn on an arm 30 of a human body, for thepurpose of continuously collecting blood glucose data of the human body.In this embodiment, the dynamic blood glucose data acquiring devicecomprises a portable host 10 and a probe assembly 20. In this case, theprobe assembly 20 includes two glucolase micro electrode needles 21, anda first circuit board 22 which is configured to process signals from theglucolase micro electrode needles. Besides, a first electrode terminalis provided on the first circuit board 22. The host 20 includes an outershell and a second circuit board 13 which is located in the outer shell,and a second electrode terminal is provided on the second circuit board13. The outer shell further includes a probe mounting position and afixing structure for fixing the outer shell to the human body. The probeassembly 20 is mounted into the probe mounting position in such a waythat the glucolase micro electrode needles 21 are projected out of alower surface of the outer shell. When the probe assembly 20 is mountedinto the probe mounting position, the first electrode terminal on thefirst circuit board 22 is electrically connected to the second electrodeterminal on the second circuit board 13.

The glucolase micro electrode needle 21 in this case has a length of4.9mm, which is capable of piercing the cuticle and epidermis, andfurther reaching to the corium layer. Oxidation reactions occur betweenthe glucolase micro electrode needle 21 and the glucose in the humanbody, thereby forming electrical signals (including low-voltage andlow-current signals). The first circuit board 22 is integrated with amicro processor. The micro processor is configured to preliminarilyprocess (such as filter, amplify, or the like) the electrical signalsfrom the glucolase micro electrode needle 21, and send the processedelectrical signals to the second circuit board 13 via the firstelectrode terminal and the second electrode terminal. The second circuitboard 13 is integrated with a MCU, and converts the electrical signalsfrom the probe assembly 20 into blood glucose readings via the MCU.

Since an effective time of the glucolase micro electrode needle 21 is 7days (that is, the glucolase micro electrode needle 21 is capable ofsteadily reacting with the glucose in the human body within 7 days), itis possible for the probe assembly 20 in the dynamic blood glucose dataacquiring device to continuously collect the blood glucose data for 7days in real time in principle, and the host 10 carries out theconversion of the blood glucose data, thereby the dynamic blood glucosedata of the human body is acquired. Certainly, for the accuracy of theblood glucose data collecting and the comfort of wearing, it is possibleto limit a valid period of the probe assembly 20 within 5 days.

Besides, since the probe assembly 20 is assembled to the host 10, it ispossible to disassemble the probe assembly 20 from the host 10 and use anew probe assembly 20 to collect the blood glucose data combing with thehost, after the probe assembly 20 becomes invalid (for example, afterthe probe assembly 20 has been used for 7 days). Therefore, with thestructure described above, the probe assembly 20 is possible to be usedas a disposable product, and thus the glucolase micro electrode needle21 implanted into the human body is avoided from being repeatedly used.However, the host 10 may be repeatedly used in order to avoid waste.

The second circuit hoard 13 includes a battery 14 configured forsupplying power to the second circuit board 13. The second circuit board13 further supplies power to the first circuit board 22 via the secondelectrode terminal and the first electrode terminal. The battery 14 maybe a chargeable lithium cell, and a charging interface may be providedon the second circuit board 13. The battery 14 may also be a button cellwhich is convenient to change.

The outer shell of the host 10 includes an upper shell 11 and a lowershell 12 which are buckled into each other. The second circuit board 13is fixed in a space formed by the upper shell 11 and the lower shell 12.A tail of each of the glucolase micro electrode needles 21 is welded onthe first circuit board 22 and is perpendicular to the first circuitboard 22. When the probe assembly 20 is assembled to the probe mountingposition on the outer shell of the host 10, each of the glucolase microelectrode needles 21 is perpendicular to the surface of the outer shell(that is, the lower shell 12). In this way, it is possible for theglucolase micro electrode needle 21 to be perpendicularly inserted intothe epidermis of the human body. Certainly, in the practicalapplication, the glucolase micro electrode needle 21 of the probeassembly 20 may be obliquely inserted into the epidermis of the humanbody.

The probe assembly 20 includes a piston subassembly and an elasticelement 25; wherein the piston subassembly is an assembly of a pistonupper shell 24 and a piston lower shell 23, and the first circuit board22 is fixedly mounted via the piston upper shell 24 and the piston lowershell 24. One side of the elastic element 25 is electrically connectedto the first electrode terminal on the first circuit board 22, and theother side of the elastic element 25 is located on the periphery of thepiston subassembly. The probe mounting position on the outer shell ofhost 10 is a through-hole running through the upper shell and the lowershell, and a diameter of the through-hole matches with a diameter of thepiston subassembly. A contact elastic sheet 16 is arranged in a positionon the inwall of the through-hole of the outer shell of the host 10corresponding to the elastic element 25 of the probe assembly 20, andthe contact elastic sheet 16 is electrically connected to the secondelectrode terminal of the second circuit board 13. In this way, when theprobe assembly 20 is assembled to the host 10, the first circuit board22 is electrically connected to the second circuit board 13 bycontacting the elastic element 25 with the contact elastic sheet 16.

In particular, the through-hole on the outer shell of the host 10 isformed by a piston sleeve 15, and the contact elastic sheet 16 is fixedon the piston sleeve. The piston sleeve 15 is received between the uppershell 11 and the lower shell 12, and an inner diameter of the pistonsleeve 15 matches with an outer diameter of the piston subassembly ofthe probe assembly 20. In this way, it is possible for the probeassembly 20 to be directly inserted into the piston sleeve 15 in orderto achieve an assembly thereof. A buckle component may be arranged onthe periphery of the piston subassembly and an inner wall of the pistonsleeve 15, in order to prevent the probe assembly 20 which is insertedinto the piston sleeve 15 from getting out of the piston sleeve 15. Itis also possible to provide a component configured to prevent the probeassembly 20 from getting out of the piston sleeve 15 (such as, astructure similar to a buckle or a barb) between the piston subassemblyof the probe assembly 20 and the piston sleeve 15 of the host 10.

When using the dynamic blood glucose data acquiring device of thepresent application, the host 10 is firstly fixed on the human body(such as an arm), and the piston subassembly of the probe assembly 20 isin turn inserted into the piston sleeve 15 of the host 10, such that theglucolase micro electrode needle 21 pierces into the skin, and thus thecollection of the blood glucose data can be achieved.

Certainly, in the practical application, it is also possible for theprobe mounting position on the host 10 to be a recess on the bottom ofthe host 10. When using the dynamic blood glucose data acquiring deviceof the present application, the probe assembly 20 is firstly fixed onthe human body, that is, the glucolase micro electrode needle 21 piercesinto the skin; then the host 10 is fixed on the human body with therecess on the bottom of the host 10 aligned with the tail of the probeassembly 20. Compared with the method using the through-hole, thewearing of the probe mounting position in form of a recess iscomplicated, and it is not easy to control the piercing of the glucolasemicro electrode needle 21 into the skin.

In order to achieve a precise assembly of the probe assembly 20, aradial rib may be formed on the periphery of the piston subassembly.Accordingly, a radial positioning groove is defined on a position on theinner wall of the piston sleeve 15 corresponding to the radial rib ofthe piston subassembly. The assembly of the probe assembly 20 may beachieved only by inserting the radial rib into the radial positioninggroove. Certainly, it is also possible for the radial positioning grooveto be defined on the periphery of the piston subassembly, and for theradial rib to be formed on a position on the inner wall of the pistonsleeve 15 corresponding to the radial positioning groove. In this way,the precise assembly of the probe assembly 20 may also be achieved.

The fixing structure on the outer shell of the host 10 includes anadhesive back patch 17 engaged with the bottom of the lower shell, and athrough-hole configured for the glucolase micro electrode needle 21 torun through is further defined on the adhesive back patch 17. A medicaltape 18 having a mesh may be fixed on the adhesive back patch 17, andthe adhesive back patch 17 is further adhered to the human body via themedical tape 18. The medical tape has a good permeability, and will notbring about irritability or uncomfortable symptoms after being used fora long time.

In particular, a diameter of the through-hole of the adhesive back patch17 is less than a diameter of the piston subassembly of the probeassembly 20. In this way, during the disassembly of the probe assembly20, the probe assembly 20 may be directly pushed to move in an insertingdirection, and the adhesive back patch 17 may be separated from thelower shell 12 of the host 10 when the probe assembly 20 is getting outof the piston sleeve 15. Therefore, the wearing thereof is hygienic.

In order to send out the blood glucose data of the host 10, a Bluetoothcommunication module may be provided on the second circuit board 13. Inthis way, any apparatus having a function of Bluetooth communication,such as a cell-phone, a laptop or the like, may be communicated with thehost 10 via Bluetooth, and may further collect the blood glucose dataacquire d.

Those are preferred embodiments of the present application. However, itshould be understood that, the protection scope of the presentapplication is not limited here. In the inspiration of the presentapplication, one skilled in the art may easily make variousmodifications and equivalents, without going beyond the scope the claimsintend to protect of the present application. All these belong to theprotection of the present application should be protected. Therefore,the protection scope of the present application is subjected to theprotection scope claimed in claims.

1.-10. (canceled)
 11. A blood glucose data acquiring device comprising:a reusable component comprising a first housing having a cavity, anupper surface, a lower surface, and a receiving recess formed into atleast one of the upper and lower surfaces, the receiving recess beingsurrounded by an inner wall that separates the receiving recess from thecavity, the inner wall comprising a first alignment feature; a firstcircuit board located in the cavity of the reusable component; a firstconductive member located in the cavity of the reusable component andbeing electrically connected to the first circuit board, a portion ofthe first conductive member being exposed along the inner wall of thereusable component; a disposable component comprising a second housinghaving a cavity and an outer surface, the outer surface comprising asecond alignment feature; a second circuit board located in the cavityof the disposable component; a second conductive member located in thecavity of the disposable component and being electrically connected tothe second circuit board, a portion of the second conductive memberbeing exposed along the outer surface of the second housing of thedisposable component; and wherein the disposable component is detachablycoupled to the reusable component by aligning the second alignmentfeature of the disposable component with the first alignment feature ofthe reusable component and inserting the second housing of thedisposable component into the receiving recess of the reusablecomponent, the first and second conductive members contacting oneanother to electrically connect the first circuit board of the reusablecomponent to the second circuit board of the disposable component. 12.The blood glucose data acquiring device according to claim 11 whereinthe disposable component comprises two glucose probes that areelectrically connected to the second circuit board, wherein the twoglucose probes are configured to pierce a cuticle and epidermis of auser to form electrical signals.
 13. The blood glucose data acquiringdevice according to claim 12 wherein the second circuit board of thedisposable component comprises a microprocessor that is configured topreliminarily process the electrical signals received from the twoglucose probes.
 14. The blood glucose data acquiring device according toclaim 13 wherein the first circuit board of the reusable componentcomprises a microcontroller that is configured to receive the processedelectrical signals from the microprocessor of the second circuit boardof the disposable component and convert the processed electrical signalsreceived from the disposable component into blood glucose readings. 15.The blood glucose data acquiring device according to claim 11 whereinthe receiving recess of the reusable component is a through-hole thatextends from a first opening in the upper surface of the first housingto a second opening in the lower surface of the first housing, andwherein the disposable component nests within the through-hole whencoupled to the reusable component and glucose probes of the disposablecomponent that are electrically connected to the second circuit boardprotrude from the lower surface of the first housing.
 16. The bloodglucose data acquiring device according to claim 11 wherein the housingof the reusable component comprises an upper shell and a lower shellthat define the cavity when coupled together, and a piston sleeve thatis located within the cavity between the upper and lower shells, andwherein an inner surface of the piston sleeve forms the inner wall thatsurrounds the receiving recess of the reusable component.
 17. The bloodglucose data acquiring device according to claim 16 wherein the pistonsleeve comprises an annular sidewall having one or more openings throughwhich the portion of the first conductive member extends.
 18. The bloodglucose data acquiring device according to claim 11 further comprising:wherein one of the first and second alignment feature is a rib and theother of the first and second alignment features is a groove; andwherein the disposable component can only be inserted into the receivingrecess of the reusable component when the rib of the one of the firstand second alignment features and the groove of the other one of thefirst and second alignment features are aligned, which ensures that thefirst and second conductive members are in contact with each other whenthe disposable component is located within the receiving recess of thereusable component.
 19. The blood glucose data acquiring deviceaccording to claim 11 wherein the first circuit board of the reusablecomponent comprises a Bluetooth communication module that is configuredto place an external electronic device into operable communication withthe first circuit board of the reusable component.
 20. A method ofacquiring blood glucose data from a user, the method comprising:affixing a host component onto a part of a body of the user, the hostcomprising a through-hole that extends from an exposed upper surface ofthe host to a non-exposed lower surface of the host that is in contactwith the body of the user; inserting a probe assembly into thethrough-hole of the host so that glucose probes protruding from a lowersurface of the probe assembly penetrate into a skin of the user; andwherein upon inserting the probe assembly into the through-hole of thehost component, a first circuit board located in the host component isin electrical communication with a second circuit board located in theprobe assembly.
 21. The method according to claim 20 wherein when theglucose probes are located within the skin of the user, oxidationreactions occur between the glucose probes and glucose in the user,thereby forming electrical signals that are processed by amicroprocessor of the second circuit board of the probe assembly. 22.The method according to claim 21 wherein the microprocessor of thesecond circuit board of the probe assembly transmits the processedelectrical signals to the first circuit board of the host component. 23.The method according to claim 22 wherein the first circuit board of thehost component is integrated with a microcontroller that is configuredto convert the processed electrical signals received from the secondcircuit board into blood glucose readings.
 24. The method according toclaim 20 wherein the probe assembly is configured to continuouslycollect blood glucose data from the user for up to at least seven days.25. The method according to claim 20 wherein, after expiration of apredetermined period of time, the probe assembly is detached from thehost component and a new probe assembly is inserted into thethrough-hole of the host component.